St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-03
THIEVING INDIANS.
Troubles Between Tribes In and Out OF
the United States.
AN ARMY OFFICERS TALK.
Our Authorities Compel Indians to Give
Up Plumber; Canadian
Do Not.

canada makes no effort to prevent
marauding bands of Indians from leav-
ing their reservations under the control
of the Dominion government" said
Lieut.. George B. Backus, of the First
cavalry, who is at the Ryan on leave
of absence from Fort BufOrd, land un-
til some steps are taken in that direc-
ton, just so long will there be Indian
troubles along the frontier. Besides
our forts are too far away from each
other, and especially from one of the
main entrances used by the raiding In
dians to be of any practical service in
preventing such fOrayS. Take Fort
BufOrd, for one instance, eighty miles
from the boundary line, and Fort ASSN
ibOine forty miles distant from the same
point There is long stretch of coun-
try about two hundred miles between
these forts and the Rocky mountains,
and through one of these passes the In
dams make their entrance into the
United States. They are for the most
part BloOdS. or as they are known, East
Crees, and they cOniine their depreda-
lions to peaceably disposed Indians like
the ASsinibOineS and settlers, but are
careful TO give the
T.
a wide birth. Their raids are for the
most part for the purpose of running
off horses. and they usually come across
the line in parties ranging from ten to
twelve at the most Mingllng among
the friendly Piegans after they have
run off number of horses, they take
good rest and recuperate and in the
meantime it is utterly impossible to de-
tect them, owing to the care taken of
them by their allies. The point at
which they come into the states is one
noted for the abundance of water and
facilities for grazing, and, in my Opin-
ion, another fort could be prOftably
located on the Piegan reservation and
would act as a check i'll preventing
these incursionS. Whenever any of
our indians steal stock from their Cana
dian brethren. and they are caught, the
stolen property is promptly given up,
but on the other side of the line it is
different. What the BloOds steal they
keep. unless they are detected before
they get out of this country. and then
they are forced to abandon their plum
der. Our Indians complain bitterly
about the injustice thus manifested,
and say when we take anything from
the Canadians our agents make us give
it back, but when the Canadians rob us
they are permitted to keep it, There
is some show of reason in this argu-
ment. These raids can only be stopped
by cavalry. but the force that we now
have at our disposal to guard this i'm
mense territory comprises only
ABOUT FOUR TROOPS,
of fifty men each. There should be fifty
five men in complete troop, but we are
short of our number at both forts.
Then, too, the SmallnesS of the raiding
parties makes their discovery difficult,
and it frequently occurs that thrail is
three or four hours old ere we start in
pursuit. and the results are cOnse-
quently very meager. think during
the past year our troops have compelled
raiding bands of Canadian Indians to
give up fifteen ponies, and these were
dropped behind when the chase became
too hot for the enemy"